Full speed ahead for fast learner Crawley
ZAK Crawley insisted that he had no fears about making his firstclass debut against an international side and after a maiden half-century against the West Indies, the Kent batsman showed just why he is so highly rated at Canterbury.
Still only 19, Crawley got his opportunity for Kent in the tour game against the Windies, batting at three and immediately called into action when Daniel BellDrummond fell in the first over of the Kent innings.
That meant an examination against the raw pace of Alzarri Joseph, not to mention Miguel Cummins and Raymon Reifer.
But Crawley looked right at home as he made 62, putting on 182 with Sean Dickson (142), a familiar partner from second XI cricket.
And Crawley explained that it had been an easy transition into the first team, even if the pace was a little quicker than he had been used to.
He said:“I’d have been pleased to make my debut against anyone but it is special to play against an international side.
“They were a bit quicker than what I’ve faced before.We get the odd quick bowler in the twos but all three of them had a bit behind them.
“Usually you get a break in twos cricket; you get the quick bowler then the medium pacers after. They were all pretty sharp and I managed to cut one onto my lid. But it was quite a slow deck so I found the pace a little easier to deal with.
“It makes it easier to come into the set-up on debut, already knowing a fair bunch of the guys, they made me feel very welcome.
“You have got the best view in the house at the other end, just yards away from top quality players. You watch how they go about it and meet in the middle at the end of the over and talk about how you are going to take down certain bowlers.You learn more in the middle with these guys than in hours in the nets.”
Crawley has been tipped for big things for a while, he signed his first professional contract at 17, and has worked with Rob Key and Darren Stevens in the past.
He has clearly made an impression on Key, who again turned to social media to single out Crawley’s potential after the knock against the West Indies.
And while some might find that intimidating, Crawley is relishing the praise from a Kent legend.
He added: “There’s no pressure. I don’t see it that way. It drives me on to have someone think highly of my game and how I play. It makes you feel you can achieve something in the game so it pushes you on.
“For me now the priority is, whoever I play for and whatever format, I’ve just got to keep scoring runs.”